CRUISING
IRISH SPECIAL
50 GOOD REASONS TO CRUISE IRELAND
The beer is black, the water’s blue and the shores are emerald green – Norman Kean sings the praises of Irish cruising
BIGGEST SAIL LOFT IN THE WORLD
MADE IN CHINA
Nigel Calder visits the giant China Sails Factory where some top UK brands have their sails made by a cut-price labour force
CHUBBY CHECKER AND THE TWISTER CRAZE
A fondness for pork pies leaves Kieran Flatt trapped in the bilges
HURRICANE – WHAT HURRICANE?
Rich Malone is three times lucky as hurricanes pass him by while cruising in the Caribbean
BLUE WATER LETTER FROM SWEDEN
Andy O’Grady discovers the most beautiful boat ever built
NIGHT VISION
OUZO – THE AFTERMATH
Two doctors give their expert view on how to stay safe when night sailing

SAILING SKILLS
VERTICAL BATTENS
VERTICALLY CHALLENGED
Do vertical battens in furling genoas and in-mast reefing mainsails really work? Tom Cunliffe finds out
LEARNING CURVE: TROUBLE ALOFT
A broken furling drum leads to a flying forestay
SKIPPER’S TIPS
Tidal checks, clear commands and cow hitches PLUS: Quick quiz
QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP & BOOK REVIEWS
Tack or gybe? You decide. PLUS: The latest sailing books
ANY QUESTIONS
Buying a cruiser-racer; drying out tips and anchor loads

BOATS AND GEAR
ALLURES 44
BLUE CHIP, BLUE WATER BABY
Chris Beeson sails an alluring French aluminium cruiser
NEW BOATS
Is the new Moody 45 the shape of cruisers to come?
USED BOAT TEST: CWAC WENT THE CLIPPER
The Nantucket Clipper is an affordable classic
SUMMER SIZZLERS
Six boat barbecues on test – we pick the best
CONFESSIONS OF A PRIMEVAL PYROMANIAC
Caveman origins of BBQs and when smoke gets in your eyes
NEW GEAR
Inflatable fenders, active AIS, radar, plotters and jet packs
THE LEGEND BEGINS
We sail with the winners of the Legend 27 that YM gave away as a £45,000 prize to mark our 100th birthday

REGULARS
EDITOR’S LOG
Chinese stitch-up?
GIPSY MOTH COMES HOME
Plymouth’s proud welcome
NEWS
Sail loft intrigue
READERS’ LETTERS
Your views and opinions
LIBBY PURVES
The cruising tribe’s timeline
CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Why flares are back in vogue
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
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AROUND THE COAST
Huge horses’ heads in Scotland and the rest of your local news
CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins